In a celebration of World Art Day (April 15, 2020), Mattel’s Barbie has linked with the estate of Jean -Michel Basquiat on a limited edition doll. Dressed in a crown and suit, the doll’s ensemble features many well-known elements from works spanning Basquiat’s career.
The doll was designed by Carlyle Nuera, lead designer for Barbie Signature at Mattel. Commenting on the doll’s design, Carlyle stated, “Each piece of the doll’s outfit is printed with a different work of art spanning his entire career. My favorite piece is ‘Big Joy,’ circa 1984, printed on the suit jacket’s left arm.”
She added, “Basquiat’s estate gave us digital access to images of the work in their archive. To look through every piece, and decide which ones I wanted to use based on visual appeal and meaning, was an honor. The Basquiat crown is one of his most iconic motifs in his work, so I wanted to take that 2D piece of art and make it a 3D crown on Barbie doll’s head, echoing the themes of self-worth and crowning yourself as worthy.”
Priced at $50, Mattel’s Barbie and Jean-Michel Basquiat doll is now available on barbie.com.
